My Sports Path

Would you be surprised to learn that you are 8x more likely to be struck by lightning than to land a front office job for a team in the Big 4, the NBA, NFL, NHL or MLB? [10]? Most young men, and many women too, have dreamed of working in sports for their entire lives and it’s easy to understand why. Many of us grew up watching and participating sports and have acquired a deep passion for the game. The sports industry is projected to grow another $8 billion by 2023[1] and there still will not be enough jobs for everyone who seeks one, which has not deterred my pursuit of a sports career one bit.  To succeed in sports, there are a number of fundamental qualities, traits and leadership roles required along the way, as well as intense networking and a flexibility to go where your career takes you and one thing you do not need is a degree in Sports Management. Love of the game and a Sports Management degree, is not enough to start and succeed in the sports industry. 

There are innate qualities that are necessary in a sports leader. The first, and most obvious, is drive[2]. Unless you are born into a sports franchise family, a future sports leader will need to start at the bottom and work his way up to leadership. Personal drive will include equal parts “passion”, “perseverance” and “grit”[3]. A sports-leader-in-the-making will also need a competitive spirit and a singular focus on getting ahead in sports. They will need to act selflessly and jump in to do the “things that other people aren’t willing to do”[4] like laundry and mopping up a locker room spill. The individual will also need an extremely high emotional intelligence and bring a charismatic style, strong communication skills and an inclusive orientation[5]. Lastly, to stand out and get ahead in this highly competitive field, future leaders will need to be authentic and self-aware[6]. An honest inventory of strengths and weaknesses will be needed long before applying for one’s first job[7]. If this list seems to add-up to a near perfect human, that is accurate. Sports organizations will hold out for the ideal candidate in both soft and hard skills. For me, the soft skills are my superpower. While others may have stronger athletic talent, I have the authenticity and drive to find a starting role in sport and, ultimately, to proceed to one of the few coveted General Manager spots.

           Speaking of hard skills, by the time one gets to college, it is likely too late to start building a robust sports leadership resume. Leadership in sports literally needs to begin in middle school in order to show a 10-year track record of leadership at graduation. Sports leadership can include participation in sports, and needs to go much beyond, to include volunteer and paid jobs within the sports world. Examples of sports leadership roles, and the ones I pursued, include team captain, coaching jobs, lifeguard experience, event management, sports-related philanthropy and written perspectives on the sports world in print or social media. Getting one’s first sports-related internship in college will not be easy and so having a strong sports-focused resume will, at least, open the door to consideration. How might one get a sports leadership role as early as middle school? Try asking. A future sports leader will need to volunteer for every task from setting up the soccer goal posts at 7:00am to collecting the bases in a thunderstorm. It won’t be glamorous but everyone needs to start somewhere.

           In college, there are two different paths to one’s future: a sports management degree and the generalist route. The Sports Management degree is relatively new in the world of higher education with degree options growing from just 3 in 1980 to over 300 today[8]. Now, there is even an online database of graduate and undergraduate programs to match prospective students to the right curriculum[9]. There is a lot of money in Sports Management degrees and so when one googles “Sports Management”, a list of degree programs will fill your screen. A Sports Management degree can provide both education specific to the various roles in sports as well as a built-in network of sports contacts. Ohio University’s Center for Sports Administration is “arguably the most hailed of its kind and boasts 1,200 alumni in leadership positions”[10] across the sports world. That said, a degree in Sports Management does not in any way guarantee you a job in sports. As one recent college grad explained, “imagine my shock after applying to job postings for months during my senior year and not hearing back from anyone before graduating [with a Sports Management degree][11]. The job seeker’s #1 thing to “Know About Working In Sports Before You Graduate” is that you do not need a Sports Management major[12]. She goes on to say that with “1,000 applicants for ONE position”, the job applicant will need to find and start in a role that is nowhere near their “dream job”[13].

            Fortunately, for me, at a liberal arts college, there is another path to a career in sports. Liberal arts degrees provide students with the “soft skills”[14] needed such as interpersonal dexterity and the confidence to seek out a multiple perspective. Small liberal arts colleges emphasize critical thinking, interpersonal skills, a broad knowledge base and real-world experience. Having a diverse network may even prove to be more fruitful vs one where everyone you took class with is competing for the same job. Beyond the classroom, the path to a job in sports is paved with internships before college, during and even after[15].

The sports industry is a small and insular community and so the best hires come from other teams. “For anyone trying to break into the sports industry at the entry level, internship experience is critical.”[16] It’s all about taking experience from one area and applying it to another. “Transferable experiences are everything!”[17] explains a University of Pennsylvania/Wharton alum. “Short of an inside connection, I rarely, if ever, see someone get hired into a job without previous experience” confirms a sports journalist[18]. Beyond a robust and relevant resume, the sports world is so small that it is not unusual for a hiring manager to call one’s previous employer to get the inside word on performance. A sports job-seeker may even have to intern after graduation to get their start[19].  Regardless of which department, one’s internships officially sits in, the key is to gain experience across the organization. In an intern’s off hours, he or she should look to volunteer in operations, facilities management, events and community partnerships. Pitch in everywhere and meet as many people across the organization as humanly possible is my plan of attack. If my internship is during the day, I’ll volunteer on nights and weekends. 

Beyond practicing skills, internships offer the opportunity to network. Networking includes two important components. Meeting people in leadership roles with influence on hiring and meeting young-in-career sports professionals to learn about the various path to one’s dream job[20]. Networking, connecting with every age and occupation is also a skill that is emphasized in liberal arts education. Getting your foot in the door of the Sports Business is considered by some people to be the hardest part. Without the necessary connections, getting in the business can be all but impossible. By stepping out of your comfort zone and forcing yourself to make connections, it can open the door to the elusive first job in the business.

Conferences like The National Sports Forum and Sports Industry Networking and Career Conference (SINC) are another way to meet, network and possibly even interview[21] albeit in a large, large crowd. While attending a sports conference does seem fun, the odds will be working against landing a job there. Best to be prepared with a brief elevator pitch on why someone would want to learn more about you like “I worked this summer at the Bears training camp”.Without strong relevant experience, these large conferences are likely to be a waste of time in your hunt for a first job in sports.

So, what are the post-college options for the young job seeker? While the highest profile jobs in sports are on the field, athletes, coaches, trainers and referees, most jobs in sports are off the field. Here are some entry-level roles for non-athletes and their descriptions ranked by experience required (from least to most):

Programs & Partnership Coordinator

This individual serves as the liaison between the team and community planning and facilitates partnerships like youth sports camps and charitable fundraising. They pitch-in wherever needed providing assistance with registration, recruiting volunteers and even coaching. Cold-calling to find new partners and sponsors is central to the role as is analyzing and documenting results[22].

Requirement: Under-graduate degree and willingness to work flexible hours for minimal salary

Event Coordinator

This role coordinates many of the areas unrelated to play on the field; areas such as game day ticketing, concessions, security and special events[23]. This role includes the fan experience “from the street to the seats”[24] as well as special events for sponsors, partners and VIPs.

Requirements: Under-graduate degree in Hospitality, Marketing or Business and love of logistics.

Sports Media/Public Relations

This role develops content to publicize the team in traditional media outlets (TV, radio, newspaper and magazines) and, more likely today, in digital, web and social media like the team’s website, Instagram and Facebook[25]. They create awareness for game day details, team wins, charitable activities, community partnerships and human interest stories[26].

Requirements: Social media experience within or outside of sports

Marketing & Branding

The Marketing role creates and manages the team brand in order to create interest in the team’s tickets, merchandise and events in order to grow the team’s revenue[27].

Requirements: Under-graduate degree in Marketing, Communications or Business

Sales

The Sales function ensures most of the tickets are sold before game day to season ticketholders, groups or events[28].They manage suite and logo leases as well as premium seat sales. 

Requirements: Under-graduate degree in Business and love of cold calling.

Sports Statistical Analyst

In this role, one applies mathematical models to analyze and predict the performance of an individual athlete or entire team based on past play[29]. Statistical analytics can be used for scouting, pre and in-game coaching and decision-making and, even ordering the right number of hot dogs for game day concessions. This role has gained importance and notoriety since the 2003 book and 2011 movie Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis[30]. Sports analytics, today, are applied to every sport around the globe[31].

Requirements: Under-graduate degree in Applied Math and related experience 

Sports Agent

In this role, one works directly with athletes on their business affairs; things like contract negotiations, sponsorship deals, legal, financial and tax matters. Generally, this individual is highly skilled in business, connected to the sports world in some way and available to their clients 24/7/365[32].

Requirements: Graduate degree in Sports Management

Sports Psychologist

This expert in human brain functioning seeks to address the mental piece of performance in order to improve outcomes/wins. “Sports psychologists need to understand the developmental, social, and systemic issues involved in sports, like competitiveness and stamina” in order to reduce the mental barriers inherent in elite competition[33].

Requirements: Highly specialized. Doctorate in Psychology typically required with sports knowledge/expertise.

While Sports Statistical Analyst and Sports Psychologist are outside of my skillset and interest, all the other entry-points are of interest to me. As I intern, in different areas, I will finetune my job strategy and approach. I am also intrigued by the Scout role which is the most common entry-level role for future General Managers[34]. The scout role, however, can be reserved for former college athletes within the sport. Jerry Reese of the New York Giants is a great example of starting as a scout and rising up through an organization[35]. Scouts search out and evaluate new talent for the team and, so for me, perhaps an after-graduation role as a volunteer scout could be a way to get a start that is closer to the field. Being a scout is a great opportunity to spend more time around the sport that I want to build a career in. Scouts are the backbone of every sports operations department of a sports team. Finding a diamond in the rough can change the direction of a sports franchise. A great example of this is in the 2000 NFL draft. In the 2000 NFL draft with the 199th pick in the 6thround, The New England Patriots Selected Quarterback Tom Brady from Michigan University. With 198 players drafted before him and 6 quarterbacks drafted ahead of him, he became the greatest quarterback of all time. Scouts are key to teams succeeding. 

Ultimately, it is all about the ultimate General Manager role and, while team General Manager (GM) can, and do, come from every area of the business, they most often come from the athletic slide: coaching, scouting and playing the game[36]. GMs are the most “powerful”[37] people in sports. They are responsible for hiring and firing for the most important roles on the team like Coaches, Scouts, Trainers, and any other position at all related to the players of the sport. They are the leader of the organization and have the “final say”[38] on important decisions like which players should be kept or traded. While some General Managers do have graduate degrees in Sports Management, many do not. A degree holds little meaning in the big leagues. Think about Theo Epstein who was the youngest GM in history when he joined the Boston Red Sox in 2004. Theo was just 28 years old with an American Studies degree from Yape and no on-the-field experience as a baseball player, coach or scout after high school.

GMs bring a deep passion for the sport and the motivation required to achieve greatness. Because fans can be highly critical of a GM that is not producing a winning team, they need courage and a thick skin[39]. GMs also manage the business of a team. In tough times, owners can go through several GMs before finding just the right one. They balance spending with revenue in order to ensure that the team is profitable. They need a broad range of skills including “economics, accounting and contract laws”[40] beyond deep knowledge of the sport.

Just as “coachability”[41] is important on a team, it’s just as important in the world of sports professionals to have a mentor. Set ego aside and ask for feedback every step of the way. What could I have done different and better? How can I learn from someone else’s success and failures? Whether its well known or not, most leaders in sports were taught by someone who held a similar position before. A well-known example of mentorship is something call a “NFL Coaching Tree”. A NFL coaching tree starts with a successful NFL head coach and the branches of the trees are assistant coaches of that coach that went on to be a head coach. A famous NFL coaching tree is Bill Parcells, who had three HOF coaches working for him at one time. Those three coaches were, Tom Coughlin, Sean Payton, and Bill Belichick.

While the odds are against me, and with no plan to acquire a Sports Management degree, my plan to pursue in career is sports is clear – start early and pursue every option that comes my way. “You are talking to a friend and suddenly it occurs to you, ‘Dude, I want a job in sports’. How likely is your friend to raise his eyebrows, look you over with an appraising eye, and wish you good luck?” [5] I get it that people are skeptical, but I am determined and will run one of America’s greatest sports dynasties. I know with the foundation of a Liberal Arts Education that I am getting at DePauw will allow me the opportunity to attain even my highest aspirations. Everyone always talks the talk about going for there dream, now it’s time for me to walk the walk.  

End Notes

[1] Statistica. North America sports market size from 2009 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars). https://www.statista.com/statistics/214960/revenue-of-the-north-american-sports-market/

[2] 10 Important Qualities of a Sports Leader. https://leadersofevolution.com/qualities-of-sports-leader-how-to-become-one-high-school-sports/

[3] 10 Important Qualities of a Sports Leader.

[4] 10 Important Qualities of a Sports Leader.

[5] The Complete Guide to Careers in Sports Management 2021. https://www.sports-management-degrees.com/business-careers/

[6] 10 Important Qualities of a Sports Leader.

[7] Belzer, Jason. Sports Industry 101: Breaking Into The Business Of Sports. February 5, 2014. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbelzer/2014/02/05/sports-industry-101-breaking-into-the-business-of-sports/?sh=577bf5b03db9

[8] Belzer, Jason. Sports Industry 101: Breaking Into The Business Of Sports. February 5, 2014. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbelzer/2014/02/05/sports-industry-101-breaking-into-the-business-of-sports/?sh=577bf5b03db9

[9] Belzer, Jason. Sports Industry 101: Breaking Into The Business Of Sports

[10] Belzer, Jason. Sports Industry 101: Breaking Into The Business Of Sports.

[11] 10 Important Qualities of a Sports Leader,

[12] 10 Important Qualities of a Sports Leader

[13] 10 Important Qualities of a Sports Leader

[14] Faulkner, Brooke. Work in Sports. Will a Liberal Arts Degree Help My Sports Career? April 27, 2021. https://www.workinsports.com/blog/will-a-liberal-arts-degree-help-my-sports-career/

[15] 10 Important Qualities of a Sports Leader

[16] Belzer, Jason. Sports Industry 101: Breaking Into The Business Of Sports.

[17] Alumni Spotlight: Kelly Schrader Talks About What Helped Her Break Into Sports Business and Her View on Esports. April 28, 2020. https://wsb.wharton.upenn.edu/alumni-spotlight-kelly-schrader-talks-about-what-helped-her-break-into-sports-business-and-her-view-on-esports/

[18] Belzer, Jason. Sports Industry 101: Breaking Into The Business Of Sports.

[19] 10 Important Qualities of a Sports Leader

[20] Alumni Spotlight: Kelly Schrader Talks About What Helped Her Break Into Sports Business and Her View on Esports.

[21] Belzer, Jason. Sports Industry 101: Breaking Into The Business Of Sports

[22] NBA Team Jobs. Compete with Intensity, Lead with Integrity and Inspire Play. This is Our Calling. What’s Yours? https://www.teamworkonline.com/basketball-jobs/nbateamjobs/nba-league-office

[23] Frost, Shelly. A List of Careers in Sports. https://work.chron.com/list-careers-sports-8588.html. August 07, 2018

[24] NBA Team Jobs. Compete with Intensity, Lead with Integrity and Inspire Play. This is Our Calling. What’s Yours?

[25] Frost, Shelly. A List of Careers in Sports

[26] NBA Team Jobs. Compete with Intensity, Lead with Integrity and Inspire Play. This is Our Calling. What’s Yours?

[27] Sports Career Finder. Your gateway to a Job in Sports. Professional Sports League Jobs. https://www.sportscareerfinder.com/proleaguejobs/

[28] NBA Team Jobs. Compete with Intensity, Lead with Integrity and Inspire Play. This is Our Calling. What’s Yours?

[29] Faulkner, Brooke. Work in Sports. Will a Liberal Arts Degree Help My Sports Career? April 27, 2021. https://www.workinsports.com/blog/will-a-liberal-arts-degree-help-my-sports-career/

[30] Murillo, Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter. Business World. Sports analytics in the Moneyball era. July 22, 2019.

[31] Murillo, Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter. Business World. Sports analytics in the Moneyball era. July 22, 2019.

[32] Frost, Shelly. A List of Careers in Sports.

[33] TBS Staff. The Top 10 Sports Careers for Non-Athletes. April 23, 2021. https://thebestschools.org/careers/top-sports-careers-non-athletes/

[34] Chron contributor. Chron. Education and Training of a General Manager for a Sports Team. March 23, 2021. https://work.chron.com/education-training-general-manager-sports-team-28705.html

[35] Chron contributor. Chron. Education and Training of a General Manager for a Sports Team. 

[36] Chron contributor. Chron. Education and Training of a General Manager for a Sports Team.

[37] Chron contributor. Chron. Education and Training of a General Manager for a Sports Team.

[38]  Chron contributor. Chron. Education and Training of a General Manager for a Sports Team.

[39] Chron contributor. Chron. Education and Training of a General Manager for a Sports Team.

[40] Chron contributor. Chron. Education and Training of a General Manager for a Sports Team.

[41] Alumni Spotlight: Kelly Schrader Talks About What Helped Her Break Into Sports Business and Her View on Esports.

Bibliography

Alumni Spotlight: Kelly Schrader Talks About What Helped Her Break Into Sports Business and Her View on Esports. April 28, 2020. https://wsb.wharton.upenn.edu/alumni-spotlight-kelly-schrader-talks-about-what-helped-her-break-into-sports-business-and-her-view-on-esports/

Belzer, Jason. Sports Industry 101: Breaking Into The Business Of Sports. February 5, 2014. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbelzer/2014/02/05/sports-industry-101-breaking-into-the-business-of-sports/?sh=577bf5b03db9

Chron contributor. Chron. Education and Training of a General Manager for a Sports Team. March 23, 2021. https://work.chron.com/education-training-general-manager-sports-team-28705.html

Evans, Dasmine. 10 Things To Know About Working In Sports Before You Graduate. June 22, 2018 https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/10-things-know-working-sports-before-you-graduate-dasmine-evans/

Faulkner, Brooke. Work in Sports. Will a Liberal Arts Degree Help My Sports Career? April 27, 2021. https://www.workinsports.com/blog/will-a-liberal-arts-degree-help-my-sports-career/

Frost, Shelly. A List of Careers in Sports. https://work.chron.com/list-careers-sports-8588.html. August 07, 2018

NBA Team Jobs. Compete with Intensity, Lead with Integrity and Inspire Play. This is Our Calling. What’s Yours? https://www.teamworkonline.com/basketball-jobs/nbateamjobs/nba-league-office

Murillo, Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter. Business World. Sports analytics in the Moneyball era. July 22, 2019.

Sports Career Finder. Your gateway to a Job in Sports. Professional Sports League Jobs. https://www.sportscareerfinder.com/proleaguejobs/

Statistica. North America sports market size from 2009 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars). https://www.statista.com/statistics/214960/revenue-of-the-north-american-sports-market/

TBS Staff. The Top 10 Sports Careers for Non-Athletes. April 23, 2021. https://thebestschools.org/careers/top-sports-careers-non-athletes/

10 Important Qualities of a Sports Leader. https://leadersofevolution.com/qualities-of-sports-leader-how-to-become-one-high-school-sports/

The Complete Guide to Careers in Sports Management 2021. https://www.sports-management-degrees.com/business-careers/